9:18 PM ET Emily RandESPN The NBA 2K Players Tournament has been a delightful and peculiar competition to watch. It has offered a candid peek into NBA players’ lives that we wouldn’t have had otherwise, set against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic. It also has revealed which players are true gamers. Esports and
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Life without NBA basketball — and sports in general — has been tough. Simply put, there’s no replacing the thrill of watching one of the most exhilarating games,
7:03 PM ET LOS ANGELES — Doc Rivers says he isn’t sure what shape or form the NBA will take if it can resume this season, but he is certain that Kawhi Leonard will be in “phenomenal” shape if there’s a postseason. As teams try to remain prepared during this unprecedented time, with the season
11:36 PM ET After his 17th year in the league — which was shaping up to potentially be an all-timer — came to a screeching halt when pro basketball, like the rest of the world, shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, LeBron James says it would be hard to accept an incomplete ending. “I
Can Marcus Smart shoot or not? What is “The Cobra Strike”? What’s the greatest Smarf meme ever? This Marcus Smart FAQ has all your answers. Marcus Smart is a defensive dynamo, a vessel of suave and the Boston Celtics‘ spirit animal. After six NBA seasons and a thousand meme-able screenshots, the edges of his game
Even if the NBA regular season is canceled, we’ve seen enough to start assessing the first season of notable rookies. What did the Chicago Bulls see from Coby White? The Bulls entered this season with an optimistic outlook, and a talented young offensive core that they thought could compete for a playoff spot. Coby White
7:00 AM ET Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports It’s as unforgettable a moment as there is in NBA history, no matter how much San Antonio Spurs fans would love to forget it. Chris Bosh pulled down the rebound then passed out to a backpedaling Ray Allen, who calmly knocked down a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds
It’s April and, let’s face it, the world is starved for basketball-related content. Less than a week ago, this space included the admittance of imaginary one-on-one rules and a wholehearted recommendation for a video game tournament. Literally, seriously, honestly: Anything to scratch that itch. And speaking of the aforementioned itches, it must be poison ivy
8:02 PM ET In recent weeks, officials within the NBA and NBPA have been collaborating in assessing the viability of multiple blood-testing devices for the novel coronavirus that could provide accurate results within a matter of minutes, a process that would hopefully enable the league to track the virus in what’s considered a critical first
Kevin Garnett will not have his jersey retired by the Minnesota Timberwolves anytime soon, and he’s laying the blame on owner Glen Taylor. Back in February, the Boston Celtics announced they will retire Kevin Garnett‘s No. 5 jersey at some point next season. He won a ring with them in 2008, so the move makes
8:21 PM ET ESPN News Services Kevin Garnett was recently selected to be enshrined into the Basketball Hall of Fame, but he’s “not entertaining” the idea of the Minnesota Timberwolves retiring his No. 21, saying he still hasn’t forgiven team owner Glen Taylor after an acrimonious split in 2016. “Glen knows where I’m at, I’m
Basketball is back! Well, technically – 16 NBA players will be playing basketball. Online. In a video game. Hey, that still counts, right? Along with a few shining moments of optimism, the sporting world is slightly less of a barren hellscape than it was a week ago – even though the rest of the planet
The NBA has issued its pre-draft guidelines for the 2020 NBA Draft, and during this time of quarantine, teams will need to do their homework more so than ever. The actual date of the 2020 NBA Draft is still entirely up in the air. We never got to see many of these prospects elevate their
3:02 PM ET In an attempt to shield lesser-income employees from being asked to take a pay cut during the uncertain economic times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Los Angeles Lakers plan to ask the team’s top brass to make a monetary sacrifice, league sources confirmed to ESPN. Lakers ownership, after consulting with the
Suddenly we have two of the biggest front office posts in the NBA open at the same time, which means we have to ask the question: Would you rather take the Bulls job or the Knicks job? This week, news broke that the Chicago Bulls would move forward with their plans to pry the general
7:26 AM ET IN THE FRONT YARD of Jamal Crawford‘s Seattle-area home is a concrete half court with a nothing-special hoop that had, for a period of months that stretched into years, remained reserved for a singular purpose: It had been lowered from the regulation 10 feet to 6 feet so that the 19-year NBA
Back on Monday, Basketball Insiders took a look at which personnel from the Eastern Conference could be in danger of losing their jobs. In case you missed it, check it out here. Previously, we discussed the notion that there’s always one guy you’d never suspect to lose his job to get hit by the Hot
8:22 PM ET Tim BontempsESPN Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday night that he has told people in the NBA that there will be no way for the league to make a decision about when it can return until May 1 at the earliest — and probably not even then. “Essentially what I’ve told my folks
Even if the NBA regular season is canceled, we’ve seen enough to start assessing the first seasons of notable rookies. What did the Denver Nuggets see from Michael Porter Jr.? The Denver Nuggets had to wait more than a year to get their first look at Michael Porter Jr. in real game action. The 6-foot-10
1:05 PM ET Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot strode onto the sun-speckled grass at Soldier Field on Monday to make an announcement that was difficult for any sports fan to misinterpret: “We are not playing.” “We’d rather be here in Soldier Field, or Wrigley, or Sox park or at the United Center or Wintrust [Arena], cheering
7:00 AM ET This story was originally published on April 13, 2016. Kobe Bryant will be inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2020 class. BY THE TIME he was 14, Kobe Bryant had made up his mind: His quest for basketball greatness would be a solitary journey.
Rudy Tomjanovich is easily overlooked as part of a star-studded 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame class, but his induction also brings to mind the moment that altered his playing career. The 2020 class for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame was announced on Saturday. The class is headlined by Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and
1:03 AM ET Day 1 of the 16-player NBA 2K Players Tournament on ESPN concluded Friday night after four first-round matchups. For each matchup, the players had a chance to choose which team they wanted to control. The winners cannot use the teams they played with Friday night in future rounds. What follows is some
Basketball is back! Well, technically – 16 NBA players will be playing basketball. Online. In a video game. Hey, that still counts, right? Along with a few shining moments of optimism, the sporting world is slightly less of a barren hellscape than it was a week ago – even though the rest of the planet
9:19 AM ET Nick DePaulaESPN This year’s Basketball Hall of Fame class is led by a trio of NBA legends: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. And while all three racked up countless on-court accolades, they also each enjoyed notable successes in the sneaker world. In fact, this year’s group marks just the second
According to a report, the NBA is working with ESPN to finalize the details on possibly televising a H-O-R-S-E competition. If you’ve ever wondered what a H-O-R-S-E competition returning to NBA All-Star weekend would look like, the league may soon be giving you a trial run soon. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA is working
5:53 PM ET The NBA and ESPN are working on televising a H-O-R-S-E competition involving several high-profile players, sources told ESPN. Discussions have been ongoing among the NBA, NBPA and ESPN about a competition among several players in isolation — presumably using home gyms — that would include them competing shot for shot in the
Basketball is back! Well, technically – 16 NBA players will be playing basketball. Online. In a video game. Hey, that still counts, right? Along with a few shining moments of optimism, the sporting world is slightly less of a barren hellscape than it was a week ago – even though the rest of the planet
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 04: General Manager Elton Brand of the Philadelphia 76ers talks on the phone prior to the game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Wells Fargo Center on April 4, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Bucks defeated the 76ers 128-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and
Apr 1, 2020 Where does the star-studded 2020 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class rank? Since Tim Duncan announced his retirement in the summer of 2016, joining Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett in concluding their careers after the 2015-16 season, NBA fans have been anticipating the prospect of celebrating three league MVPs being inducted